"Preparing taxes can be overwhelming for many Canadians, and pressure is
added as the filing deadline draws closer," says Mr. Golombek. "Crunch
time often means errors and oversights which can easily be avoided."

Here are five tips Canadians can review before filing their taxes:

1. Pay on time

If you were unable to file your 2013 income tax return on time due to
temporary service interruptions related to the Heartbleed bug, you have
until midnight on May 5, 2014 to file your return and pay the balance
owing to avoid late-filing penalties and interest charges. If you are
self-employed, you (and your spouse or partner) have until midnight on
June 16, 2014 to file your 2013 returns, and you must pay any balance
owing no later than May 5, 2014.

2. Pay online or through pre-authorized debit

If you have a balance owing, instead of mailing a cheque, you can make a
payment to the CRA by visiting your bank in person or through online
banking. This year, the CRA has introduced a new pre-authorized debit option (PAD) that authorizes the CRA to withdraw a pre-determined payment amount
directly from your bank account, either on a one-time or recurring
basis, to pay your taxes.

3. Make sure the CRA has your most recent address and banking
information

If you're starting a new direct deposit request or changing bank
information that's already on file with the CRA, it's easy to do on
your tax return. However, you can also use the My Account service at the CRA website to submit your change request. Don't forget
to leave your old bank account open until payments start being
deposited to your new account.

4. Double check that you've included all income from all sources

To avoid penalties for under-reporting income, make sure you've included
all your income. Check for missing income by comparing 2013 tax slips
and income to prior years, and amounts on 2013 tax slips to other
documents such as investment statements. And, check if a tax deduction
or credit is allowed before making a claim.

A lot of effort goes into preparing taxes, but many Canadians don't take
the time to think about what they're going to do with their refund.
Often it just gets "parked" in chequing or savings accounts. If you're
planning to invest your refund longer term, speak with your financial
advisor about your investment options.

"These tips will help Canadian taxpayers file their 2013 tax return
efficiently, without unnecessary costs - and with more peace of mind,"
says Mr. Golombek.

CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11
million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range
of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking
network, branches and offices across Canada, and has offices in the
United States and around the world. You can find other news releases
and information about CIBC in our Media Centre on our corporate website
at www.cibc.com.